At least nine foreigners, including a woman, were killed and 18 injured when heavily-armed terrorists attacked two luxury hotels and other public places in Mumbai in one of the worst terror strikes in the country.

The slain foreigners included a Briton, an Australian, a Japanese and an Italian.

British High Commissioner Sir Richard Stagg said a UK national died in the attack in the Taj hotel, while seven of his compatriots were injured.

"We have been checking in all hospitals and are making arrangements for the British nationals who are there in the city," he said, adding "we have also informed the family members."

According to residential medical officer of St George Hospital, Ulhal Vasave, seven bodies of foreign nationals were brought to the hospital last night. The body of one Japanese victim was brought to the Bombay Hospital on Thursday morning.

The slain foreigners who have been identified are Braid Gilbert Taylor (49), an Australian; British national Andrias Leveras (aged about 75) yrs); Japanese businessman Hisashi Tsuda (38) and Italian Antonio de Lorenzo.

Two males and one female -- Michael Stert (73), Jeurgan Hetras Rudolph (68) and Stredder Daphne (50) -- were also among the dead, but their nationalities are yet to be ascertained. Two more slain foreigners were yet to be identified.

All Italians who were in hotels or other areas attacked in Mumbai have been contacted "except for one or two people," the country's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told a local TV channel.

"Some are locked up in their hotel rooms and the situation that they are describing outside is obviously frightening."

Japanese national Tsuda, who was working with Mtsui Marubeni Liquefied Gas Co, died at a hospital after being shot in the leg, stomach and chest at the Oberoi Trident hotel, the company's vice president Hajime Tamaki said in Tokyo.

Among the 60 injured admitted in Bombay Hospital, 11 foreigners were from different nationalities, Ashish Tiwari of the hospital said.

The injured foreigners are from Australia [Images], USA, Norway, Spain, Canada [Images] and Singapore, he said.